Article of footwear having adjustable closure means



Dec. 23, 1947. L. H. LHOLLIER 2,433,228

ARTiCLE OF F OOTWEAR HAVING ADJUSTABLE CLOSURE MEANS Filed June 28, 1946 M775 LEE/2's [2"]; HUZZZ'EE Patented Dec. 23, 1947 ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR HAVING ADJUST- ABLE CLOSURE MEANS Leslie H. LHollier, Waltham, Mass., assignor to The B. F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 28, 1946, Serial No. 680,312

6 Claims. (01. 36-73) This invention relates to an article of footwear having adjustable closure means and particularly to an article of footwear having a leg-encircling portion which is maintained in either a close fitting condition or a loose fitting condition about the leg by means of adjustable closure means.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide an article of footwear having a closure means such that the leg-encircling portion of the article may be worn in a normally loose fitting condition about the leg or may be worn in a close fitting condition about the leg when additional protection is desired; to provide a construction such that the change from the loose fitting to the close fitting condition may be accomplished by a simple adjustment of the closure means; to provide such adjustable closure means in a simple, non-bulky, neat appearing assembly; and generally to provide an article having a neat and pleasing appearance when worn in either of the previously mentioned conditions.

This invention is principally concerned with articles of footwear which have a leg-encircling portion which has been divided in an area extending downwardly from the upper margin of the leg-encircling portion and closure means for the opening provided by the divided upper portion. Many persons find it desirable to wear an article of footwear, such as an overshoe boot, which has a leg-encircling portion which fits loosely about the leg during normal use. Such a boot provides protection for the wearers foot and leg under weather conditions most frequently encountered. At times, however, as for example during a rainstorm or a snowstorm, it is desirable that at least the upper marginal region of the article fit closely about the wearer's leg to prevent the entrance of moisture into the top of the boot. A boot embodying the present invention provides an article which fulfills both of the previously mentioned conditions by the use of a variable closure means which is adjusted by a simple operation and which has a neat and pleasing appearance at all times. The opening provided by the divided upper portion facilitates donning the boot and allows the upper portion to be contracted to a reduced cross section where- 'by it fits closely about the leg.

The invention can best be explained by reference to a particular article embodying the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of an overshoe boot with the leg-encircling portion maintained in a loose fitting condition,

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same boot with the leg-encircling portion maintained in a close fitting condition,

Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

The overshoe boot embodying the invention as illustrated by Fig. 1 comprises a foot-enclosing portion [0 and a leg-encircling portion II. The boot comprises a pairof suitably shaped blanks which have been joined to form an integral upper assembly having the conventional vamp l2 and quarter l3 portions. To this upper portion has been joined a sole portion l4 and a.heel-enclosing portion I5. The vertical seams at the front and the back of the assembly where the upper blanks were joined are. reinforced by a front joiner strip l6 and a back joiner strip ll which extends to the upper margin l8 of the boot. The toe portion of the boot has a reinforcing toe cap l9 and the heel-enclosing portion has a similar reinforcing member 20, The leg-encircling portion II has a vertical opening 2| in the forepart of that portion forming opposed marginal areas with edges in general alignment. This opening 2| extends from the upper margin l8 of the boot downwardly to the ankle-enclosing portion of the boot in a line which parallels and is to the rear of the front joiner strip I6 so that the opening is positioned on the outside of the wearers leg. This opening provides additional space in the mouth of the boot when required to facilitate donning the boot and allows the upper portion to be contracted whereby it fits closely about the leg. The upper margin 18 of the boot has a binding strip 22 which extends entirely around the opposed vertical edges 23, 23 of the opening 2| and the upper circumference of the boot.

The leg-encircling portion has a strap 24 attached at one end to the front joiner strip is at a point opposite the middle of the vertical opening 2|. This strap is of sufficient length to extend across the opening 2! to the marginal region beyond the opening. A pair of snap fastener sockets are secured to this strap, one socket 25 being positioned on the outer face of the strap 24 near the attached end of the strap and the other socket 26 being positioned on the inner face of the strap near the unattached end.

A stud fastening member 2'! suitable to be engaged by the socket members 25 and 26 in snapped or fastened relation is secured to the 3 outer face of the leg-encircling portion at the height of but on the marginal region across the opening 2| from the attached end of the strap.

When the stud 2'! is engaged by the socket 26 which is positioned on the inner face of the strap 24 near theunattached end, the leg-encircling portion H is maintained in a loose fitting condition about the wearers leg substantially as shown in Fig. 1 with the opposed edges 23, 23 of the opening 2| in substantially abutting relation to each other.

When the material along the marginal region 28 between the opening and the front joiner strip is fo1ded inwardly against the inner face of the leg-encircling portion and the stud 21 is engaged by the socket member 25 positioned on the outer face of the attached end of the strap 24, the leg-- encircling portion H is maintained in a close fitting condition about the wearers leg as shown in Fig, 2. In this condition the stud and socket members are substantially concealed as is the marginal region 28 which has been folded inwardly against the inner face of the leg-encircling portion. The folded edge 29 of the folded marginal region 28 abuts on the marginal region on the opposite side of the opening so as to effectively close the opening when the leg-encircling portion is in the close fitting condition.

The boot as described is preferably constructed of the usual rubber or rubber-like material with an inner facing of cotton fabric or similar material although the boot may be constructed of leather, water-resistant fabric or any suitable material. When stud and socket fastening members are employed as closure means, the socket members used are preferably such that both sides of the member are similar in appearance so that when secured to the strap the exposed surfaces of the back of the one socket member and the front of the other socket member present a uniform and pleasing appearance.

In the example described in detail, stud and socket fastening members are preferably used as fastening means but other suitable means may be used such as slide buckles, hook and eye fasteners, or buckle and clasp fasteners. The fastening means is preferably used in conjunction with a strap as previously described but the article of footwear may be modified to havesuch means on the upper proper or mounted in any way which is suitable to accomplish the desired result.

The invention may be embodied in any article of footwear having a leg-encircling portion with a divided portion to provide an openin to facilitate donning and to allow the upper portion to be contracted. The opening may be of any desired size or shape and may be in any desired position around the circumference of the legencircling portion.

An article of footwear such as has been described in detail may be worn in either a loose fitting or a close fitting condition about the wearer's leg as desired. The change from one condition to the other is made by a simple operation and the article presents a pleasing appearance in either condition. The excess material which results when the article is brought into a close fitting condition is substantially concealed within the boot as is the closure means. The closure means is not bulky and presents a pleasing appearance. The entire article accomplishes the desired objects Without departing from the conventional esthetic standards for footwear of this general type.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be understood that variations and modifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of footwear having a leg-encircling upper portion, said upper portion being divided to provide an opening extending downwardly from the upper margin thereof forming opposed marginal areas normally disposed in substantially edge-abutting relation, said article having closure means for said opening including complementary fastening means positioned on the normal outer face of each of said marginal areas adapted to engage each other in fastening relation when one of said marginal areas is folded inwardly at said opening to reduce the effective cross section of said upper portion.

2. An article of footwear having a leg-encircling upper portion, said upper portion being divided to provide an opening extending downwardly from the upper margin thereof forming opposed marginal areas normally disposed in substantially edge-abutting relation, said article having closure means for said opening including means for maintaining said marginal areas in substantially edge-abutting relation and complementary fastening means positioned on the normal outer face of each of said marginal areas adapted to engage each other in fastening relation when one of said marginal areas is folded inwardly at said opening to reduce the effective cross section of said upper portion.

3. An article of footwear having a leg-encircling upper portion, said upper portion being divided to provide an opening extending downwardly from the upper margin thereof forming opposed marginal areas normally disposed in substantially edge-abutting relation, said article having closure means including a male fastening member positioned on the normal outer face of one of said marginal areas and female fastening members disposed so as to be outwardly and inwardly directed respectively with respect to the normal outer face of the other marginal area, said male fastening member being adapted to engage said inwardly directed female fastening member in fastening relation to maintain said opposed marginal areas in substantially edgeabutting relation and being adapted to engage said outwardly directed female member in fastening relation when said other marginal area is folded inwardly at said opening to reduce the effective cross section of said upper portion.

4. An article of footwear having a leg-encircling upper portion, said upper portion being divided to provide an opening extending downwardly from the upper margin thereof forming opposed marginal areas normally disposed in substantially edge-abutting relation, said article having a strap-like member permanentl secured to one of said marginal areas and normally eX- tending across said opening to the other said marginal area, said strap-like member having positioned thereon an outwardly directed female fastening member and an inwardly directed fe-- male fastening member, said other marginal aroa having positioned thereon an outwardly directed male fastening member adapted to engage said inwardly directed female member in fastening relation to maintain the said opposed marginal areas in substantially edge-abutting relation and adapted to engage said outwardly directed female member in fastening relation when the marginal area to which said strap-like member is secured is folded inwardly at said opening to reduce the effective cross section of said upper portion.

5. An article of footwear having a leg-encircling upper portion, an area of the forepart of said upper portion being divided to provide an opening extending downwardly from the upper margin to the ankle-enclosing portion thereof forming opposed marginal areas normally disposed in generally aligned relation, said article having a'strap-like member permanently secured to one of said marginal areas and normally extending across said opening to the other said marginal area, said strap-like member having positioned thereon two snap fastener sockets, one of said sockets being outwardly directed and the other inwardly directed, said other marginal area having positioned thereon an outwardly directed snap fastener stud adapted to engage said inwardly directed socket in fastening relation to maintain the said opposed marginal areas in generally aligned relation and further being adapted to engage said outwardly directed socket in fastening relation when the marginal area to which said strap-like member is secured is folded inwardly at said opening to reduce the effective cross section of said upper portion.

Number '6. An article of footwear having a leg-encircling upper portion, said upper portion being divided downwardly from the upper margin there- 'of to form opposed normally unfolded marginal areas having their opposed edges normally in alignment, said article having closure means for said opening including complementary fastening members, both of the said members being positioned on the normal outer face of said upper portion with one said member on one said marginal area and the other member on the opposed marginal area, said fastening members being adapted to engage each other in fastening relation when one of said marginal areas including the fastening member positioned thereon is folded inwardly at said opening to reduce the effective cross-section of said upper portion.

LESLIE H. LI-IOLLIER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED s'm'ras PATENTS Name Date 1,068,942 'Siegel July 29, 1913 

